Frankfort, KY - Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement (KVE) officers seized approximately 700 pounds of marijuana on Tuesday night at a weigh station just off Interstate 65 in Simpson County. KVE believes this is one of their largest drug busts ever. The commercial vehicle was stopped by officers due to a regulatory violation. The driver, a resident of Pembroke Pines, Florida, did not have a commercial vehicle operator's license.

“This seizure eliminates another opportunity for drugs to hit our communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence, Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. “I commend the vigilance of our KVE officers and their continued efforts to keep drugs out of Kentucky.”While conducting a safety inspection of the tractor-trailer and driver, officers became suspicious after finding several boxes of freight that were not documented on the drivers shipping papers. Upon closer inspection, officers could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from boxes within the load of medical supplies. The driver was arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana, operating a commercial vehicle without a commercial driver's license, operating a commercial vehicle without a medical examiners certificate and violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

The driver did cooperate with Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement enabling the Drug Enforcement Administration and local authorities to make four additional arrests in the case. Due to the destination of the marijuana, DEA officials have given the marijuana a street value of 1.1 million dollars.

"This seizure shows just how valuable our Vehicle Enforcement Officers are," said KVE Commissioner Greg Howard. "our officers are highly trained experts in all areas of law enforcement, an even more so in areas like this - stopping the drug traffic through our state."

This is the second major drug bust for KVE officers this year. In January, Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement officers in Pike County seized approximately 1000 80mg Oxycontin tablets, 17 grams of cocaine, $25,077.00 of US currency, two vehicles and two handguns. The seizure was made while assisting the Pike County Sheriff's Office at a safety checkpoint. KVE officers stopped the vehicle and discovered several indications of illegal activity.